Process for the continuous polymerization or copolymerization of trioxane

Abstract

Trioxane homo-or copolymerizate is produced by continuously feeding the liquid starting material to be polymerized into a mixer in which there is present a powdered to granular oxymethylene homopolymer or copolymer which is fluidized to form a fluidized bed, the speed of feeding, catalyst concentration and polymerization temperature are coordinated to each other in suitable manner and after a polymerization reaction of at least 70 percent polymerizate is continuously or cyclically discharged from the mixer serving as reactor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for the continuous polymerization of trioxane alone or with a copolymerizable monomer in the presence of a cationically active catalyst comprising continuously feeding the starting materials to be polymerized in fluid form into a mixer which serves as the reactor, providing powdered to granular oxymethylene homopolymer or copolymer in the reactor, converting said provided homopolymer or copolymer to a stable fluidized bed by operating said mixer above the critical speed of rotation required to form a fluidized bed, controlling the speed of feeding the materials to be polymerized so that per minute 0.5 to 10 weight percent is supplied based on the total contents of the reactor, selecting the catalyst concentration so that a solidification of the liquid starting material occurs within 20 to 50 seconds after the addition of catalyst, maintaining the temperature of the reactor contents in the range between 60° and 125° C. and discharging polymerizate from the reactor after a polymerization reaction of at least 70%. 
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymerizate is discharged continuously. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymerizate is discharged cyclically. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid starting material is fed in at a temperature between 60° and 110° C. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 4 wherein the liquid starting material is fed in at a temperature between 65° and 75° C. 
     
     
       6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid starting material is fed in at a temperature between 65° and 75° C. 
     
     
       7. A process according to claim 6 wherein the temperature of the reactor contents is kept between 75° and 100° C. 
     
     
       8. A process according to claim 5 wherein the temperature of the reactor contents is kept between 75° and 100° C. 
     
     
       9. A process according to claim 4 wherein the temperature of the reactor contents is kept between 75° and 100° C. 
     
     
       10. A process according to claim 1 wherein the temperature of the reactor contents is kept between 75° and 100° C. 
     
     
       11. A process according to claim 8 wherein there if formed a copolymer of trioxane and a copolymerizable monomer and the comonomer has the formula ##STR2## where R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which can be substituted by 1 to 3 halogen atoms, an alkoxymethyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenyl group or a phenoxymethyl group, x is a whole number from 1 to 3 when y is 0; y is a whole number from 1 to 3 when x is zero and z is 2; z is a whole number from 3 to 6 when x is zero and y is 1. 
     
     
       12. A process according to claim 1 wherein there is formed a copolymer of trioxane and a copolymerizable monomer and the comonomer has the formula ##STR3## where R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which can be substituted by 1 to 3 halogen atoms, an alkoxymethyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenyl group or a phenoxymethyl group, x is a whole number from 1 to 3 when y is 0; y is a whole number from 1 to 3 when x is zero and z is 2; z is a whole number from 3 to 6 when x is zero and y is 1.